Red Ribbon Week, recognized each year in the final week of October, raises awareness about substance use prevention and encourages young people to make healthy choices. While the message of staying drug-free is important, prevention is about more than telling kids to “just say no.” It’s about giving them the information they need to understand the risks, ask questions, and make informed decisions for themselves.
Young people hear a lot about substances from friends, social media, and the world around them. With so many messages coming at them, it’s important that youth have a place to get honest answers and learn the facts without feeling judged for asking questions.
Through a partnership between the New River Valley Recovery Ecosystem and the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech, the Just Say Know program works with students in grades 7–12 to provide science-based, trauma-informed education about substances and how they affect the brain and body.
During Just Say Know, students learn about alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, opioids, and other substances while exploring common myths and misconceptions and learning the neuroscience of substance use and addiction. The goal isn’t to scare students or lecture them about what they should and shouldn’t do. Instead, Just Say Know gives them the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and better understand the information they may already be hearing from others. When our youth understand the facts, they are better prepared to think through situations, recognize risks, and make choices that support their health and well-being.
Through Just Say Know and other prevention and education efforts, the New River Valley Recovery Ecosystem works alongside schools and community partners to help young people learn about substance use, reduce stigma, and build the skills they need to make informed choices.